The Unfinished Agenda: Charting a Course for the Second Decade of Massachusetts Education Reform - A second decade of education reform is required for Massachusetts to remain competitive in the global economy. The authors of this paper propose new goals, new funding and new reforms in order to improve Massachusetts’ education system. Recommendations include dramatically improving mathematics and science education, raising the MCAS score required for high school graduation to 240 by 2014, turning around failing schools through intensive interventions and ensuring that state funds are spent so as to maximize their effect on student performance. Additionally, the authors advocate investments to improve teaching and leadership, matching high-impact investments with the areas of highest need and building in more flexibility to “do the right thing.” (Mass Insight Education, February 2005)...